Kilembe mines set for revival under new National Mining Company
The Energy Ministry has signed a new memorandum with the newly formed Uganda National Mining Company to revive the stalled Kilembe Mines in Kasese District, after years of disuse. Kilembe Mines was the country’s largest copper mine until 1982, when copper mining stopped. However, the area still holds the largest deposits of copper and cobalt—over 6.5 metric tonnes and 5.5 metric tonnes, respectively. On the London Metal Exchange, copper prices are at 9,613 pounds per kilogram. With the takeover of the mines by the newly formed Uganda National Mining Company, resumption of operations at Kilembe is expected soon, as Betty Ndagire reports.
